Rotary engine.



L. T; smuuom Romy ENGINE Armcfinon FILED 16.!9. ww' MNHZED sum} l9?! 1,157,81 1'. Patented on 26,1915;

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\ wmg T. SHANNON.

RGTAR! ENGINE. APFUCATIQN mm mupw. 1914. RENEWED SEPT. 1, 19 I5.

Patented Oct. 26, 1935.

v 3 SHETSSHEET 3.

LEON T- SHANNON snanuon', or auto, NEVADA, assreuon or Two-mums 'ro antenna. r.

LEWIS AND oNE-rrrrn no JAMES 2. Jonas, or sane, n rvana.

EQTEQRY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Eatcnt.

Application flled'Angust 1a, 1914, Serial no. esnsse. aenewea September 1, 191a seriai Ho. 4%,576.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LEON T. SHANNON,

citizen of theUnited States, residing at internal combustion engines and more particularly to engines of the rotary type, the primary object of my invention residing in the provision of a very simple and compact arrangement of the several-parts whereby loss of energy incident to undue friction is eliminated and a very powerful operating force is obtained from a minimum consumption of fuel. 3

The invention has for a more particular object to provide in an engine of this character, a rotor provided with a plurality of self-contained propelling pistons.

In its more specific aspect the invention includes a rotor fixed upon the power shaft and mounted within a suitable case, the op posite sidewalls of the case being provided with cam-ways, a plurality of radially ex.- tending slots formed in the rotor and opening upon the periphery thereof, and pistons to reciprocate in the respective slots pro: vided with trunnions movablein said camways whereby thepistons are alternately moved inwardly and outwardly in the operation of the engine. D

With the above and other ob ects in view,

' the invention consists in novel features of construction, combination and arrangement I of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more "particularly pointed out in the specification'and claims.

For a full understanding of the inven tion, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings; in which: f Figure 1 is a Vertical section-through the engine case, one of the reciprocating pistons in the rotorfibeing illustrated in position to receive the impact of the exploded gas. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the rotor removed from the engine case. Fig. 4: is a detail diametrical section illustrating the manner of lubricating the reciprocating pistons. Fig. 5 1s a fragmentary inner face View of one side of the mo tor case, the salrnebe'ing shown partially in section. Fig. '6 is an enlarged detailed section through one of the pistons, and Fig. 7 1s a section taken on the line 'Z'-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawings 5 designates the baseof the engine case with which the\ annular body Wall indicated at 6 1s preferably integrally forrned.' The side plates 7 of the engine case are removably secured to said annular body wall by means of a plurality of screws or bolts indicated at Thebody wallfi' isforined with a water compartment or chamber shown at 9, having an outlet port 10 on one side of the case and an inlet port 11 at the opposite side thereof. These ports are interiorly threaded and adapted to receive suitable plpes as will be readily understood. in the top of the case Wall 6 at the center thereof a spark plug 12 of any approved form is arranged. The side plates 7 of the engine case are each formed with the hollow tapering bracing ribs 13. These ribs are integrally connected by the outer walls of the side plates and the side flanges of said ribs are each formed with a series of openings 14. which afford means of connection between the several divisions or Water coinparti'nents 15 of the hollow side plates of the engine case. Que-of the hollow ribs 15 at its outer end is connected through the medium of an opening 16 with the annular water chamber 9 in the bodyof the engine case, and through these openings and the hollow ribs 13 the water is conducted from one side of the case to the other. In this manner it is "seen that there is a constant circulation of the water through the chambers in the annular wall 6 and the side. plates 7 whereby the engine case is properly cooled. 1

Eachof the side plates 7 is centrally provided with an opening in which a bronze bearing bushing 17 is suitably secured. The plates 7 are each provided between their innerand outer walls with an annular wall 18 which constitutes the inner end walls of the rihslfi and the water compartments 15.

communicate with the chamber 19 and 8X71... q 116 tend downwardly therefrom through the d. open through said base to the .e. These circular chambers 19 cinafter referred to as breath- )ers, and the applicability of this be i understood as the con- *nd manner of operation the enlded. do: nates the power shaft which is mounted in the bearing bushings 17. Upon ti 1. siaft the disk or rotor is keyed or nerwis suitably fined. As clearly shown in Fig. of the this rotor is pro" vided with aplurality of radially extending slots or guidoways 23. These slots terminate at their inner ends in'spaccd relation to the power shaft upon which. the rotor is mounted, but open at their outer ends upon the periphery of the rotor. In each of the do 23 piston. 24, to be hereinafter deserih u in. detail is mounted for longitudinal slidingnrovement.

Upon the. inner face of each of the side plates of the rotor case a disk is secured in table manner. A cam-way 3:5 or tree dic ted c.1126 is cut through this disk, so that the central portion 27 thereof compile ely separated from the outer or ly portion the disk. It will be noted 'th Ed is symmetrical in con- .oes of the shaft 21 and, in direotion'of its lengtln. extends to the same diets I hove and below said power we, L...,H'l'-Wlty includes the opposed o Y sk. The face of the disk d v 1th an annular groove 28, con- U related to the power shaft and between the. inwardly curved central "connected at spaced intervals by means of openings 29 in the disk and coinciding openings 30 in the inner wall of the case plate 7,

with the breathing chamber 19. The groove 28 is of such diameter that the inner ends of the several piston slots 23 lap over the same and communicate therewith. i The slots 23 open upon each face of the rotor 22 and it will therefore be understood that the pistons 2d are rectangular in form. Each of said pistons includes a hollow body portion provided upon one end with a solid extension '31 in each surface of which a plurality of grooves 32 are formed. In these grooves suitable packing strips 33 are arrang and leaf springs 34: are disposed. with u. said grooves behind the packing strips and act to force said strips outwardly from the g'roovesinto frictional engagement h the opposed walls of the slots 23 and es of the disks 25. A rod 35 extends the hollow body of the piston 24 ;ects beyond the opposite ends there i .arly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawly curved portions 26 at the ions 26* of the cam-way. This groove isings. Upon these projecting ends of the rod or pin 35 bronze sleeves 36 are secured. These sleeves are disposed within the camways 26 of the respective disks 25 and freely move or travel. in said grooves in the rotation of the rotor The base 5 of the engine case is provided upon one side with an intake port 37 and upon its opposite side with an exhaust port 38. The inner surface of the annular body opposite sides of the outer open end of each slot spring pressed packing strips 40 are ararnged in grooves-or channels for contact with the inner surface of the annular body wall 6 of the engine case whereby the escape of the gas held within the slot 23 or between tlu; periphery of the rotor of the case wall is effectually prevented.

As thus far described the operation of the engine will be understood as follows The uppermost piston 24, referring to Fig. l of the drawings, is at the limit of its movement in one direction and has compressed a charge of gas in the outer end of the slot 23 and the opening or chamber in the case wall 6 in whicln the sparkplug 12 is arranged. The spark being now created by suitable timing mechanism this compressed gaseous charge is exploded and the piston driven inwardly. It is to be particularly observed that the bea-ring sleeves 36 of the piston are. disposed slightly to the left of the point or apex of the cam-way. Thus as the piston is driven inwardly the bearing sleeves are forced to the right in the cam-ways, the pressure of the piston against the wall of the slot 23 driving or rotating the rotor 22 in the cone spending direction. As the bearing sleeves carried by the piston travel outwardly in the upper right hand portion of. the cam- .way, said piston moves inwardly until said lsleeves are disposed within the inwardly l curved central portions 26. of the cam ways at which point the piston is at the extreme glimit of itsinward movement; Slightly before reaching this position, a second piston carried by the rotor has arrived opposite to the spark plug 12, so that a second charge of gas is exploded and the rotation of the rotor thus continued without interruption or diminution. After the piston passes below the inwardly curved portions 26 of the cam-ways it starts upon its outward movement in the slot 23 and the outer open end said slotis", also an connection with the upper e r; of the exhaust passage or chan nel 39, sch-that the burned gas is driven outardly by the piston and expelled from the said gas traveling downwardly in the channel 39 and into the port 38 from which. it IS exhausted tothe atmosphere.

llpon continued movement of the'rotor,'

the piston 2%. is again drawn inwardly as it moves past the intake port 37, so that a new charge of gas is drawn into the slot 23. This intake continues during the upward the engine shaft until the outer open end of the slot 23' is disposed above the channel 39 in the wall 6. Theibearing sleeves 36 now travel in the outwardly. curved upper left hand iortions of the cam-ways 26. so that the piston is forced outwardly and the gas' compressed. This compression continues until the piston is disposed in its uppermost position at which point the explosion takes place. Thu's an added rotary impulse is im-- parted to the rotor 22 in each 60 of its revolution. Of course it will be'obvious that the number of explosions will correspond to-the number of pistons which may be provided in the rotor, and the power to be derived from the engine increased or decreased accordingly. is moved inwardly in the respective slots 23, in the manner above explained, the air back of said piston is expelled into the annular grooves 28 in the faces of the disks and throughihe openings 29 and 30 into the breathing chambers 19 in the side plates 7 of the engine case. This air finds its exit through the passages 20. It is thus apparent that the occurrence of an air cushion behind the piston which would retard its movement and operate as a counteracting.

force to the rotation of the rotor is obviated.

l have also provided means for thoroughly lubricating each of the pistons 24 and the Walls of the slot in which it travels. To this'end the power shaft 21 is formed with a central longitudinal bore 41 to which lubricating oil is supplied from any suitable schrce. ,The inner end of this bore at the center of the rotor is outwardly extended as at 42 and opens into a peripheral groove as formed in the shaft. The rotor is provided with a series of radially extending passages l-l communicating at their inner ends vith said groove and at their outer' several pistons during the operation of the engine! From th foregoing description taken in As each of the. pistons connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction, manner of operation and several advantagesof my improved rotary engine: will-be clearly and fully understood. By providing the rotor with the self-contained radially movable pistons, I am enabled to obtain a very compact arrangement of the several elements.

whereby loss of energy is reduced to a minimum and a maximum driving power obtained with a minimum consumption of fuel. Access may be easily and quickly had to the interior of the case for thepurpose of renewing the packing rings upon the pistons by simply removing one of the, face plates 7 'of the engine case. travel of the piston on the left hand side of I have above described the particular construction of the'pi'stons 24, which construction is preferable, as it is'essential that the pistons shall be light in weight and at the same time of the requisite strength to satisfactorily sustain the pressures to which they will be subjected. .It is, however, to be distinctly understood that in the practical development of the invention it maybe found advisable to alter the construction of these pistons in various particulars. The several other structural features above described are also to be considered as simply illustrative of one desirable embodiment of the invention, and I therefore reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spiritwith a plurality of slots, a piston mounted .to reciprocate in each of the slots, eachof the side walls of the engine being provided with apassage opening to the atmosphere, each of the case walls also having a plurality of openings therein afiording communication between the inner ends of the respective slots in the rotor and said passage, whereby the air is exhausted from the inner ends of said slots in the inward movement of the respective pistons.

2. In a rotary engine, an engine case, a rotor mounted within said case and provided with a plurality of slots, a piston mounted to reciprocate in each of the slots, each of the side walls of the case being provided with an annular'chamber and a passage leading from said chamber to the atmosphere, said case wall also having openings therein affording communication between the chamber and the respective slots in the rotor whereby the air is exhausted from the inner ends of said slots in the inward movement of the respective pistons.

3.111 a rotary engine, a c:1se,'u rotor.

mounted within said case and provided with a plurality of radial slots opening upon the periphery thereof, pistons arranged in the 

